Green Ganpati 2011

Always been a great fan of Bappa (Ganpati, Ganesh, the elephant headed god) and Ganesh Chaturthi is a grand celebration in Mumbai and at home too. Though  not elaborate like many families but we have little Bappa and he stays for a few days, returns to his abode only to return next year. For me more than the religious aspect the preparations behind the celebration, large scale or small is more fascinating.

Let's take the Ganpati celebration in the area were I stay, my first memory of Sarvajanik Ganesh festival, Chedda Nagar Ganpati celebration, though I don't remember the year, but once I actually sat in the middle of the road to watch the latest film the organizers were screening as part of the celebrations. That was just a part of it for I remember it was an huge affair. What catches my attention is all the guys I see standing near Mohan's Pan shop come together and put in hours of hard work planning, fund raising  and organizing the setup of our Ganpati. it is difficult to do something like this especially after a hard day's work, however these guys manage to put up a  great show manage to put a great show every year.

At home , for years, Ganpati celebrations began a few days before the actual date when Grandpa (Mom's dad) and I armed with a makeshift shovel (almost always a broken metal ladle enough to scoop soil) would set out to collect soil. The old man made Ganpati at home, for long we had green Bappa at home, even before people started talking about ECO FRIENDLY GANPATIS. Not an artist  he always  managed to come up with a decent looking Bappa. At least Bappa did not have any complains about his looks, for he had Tur dal (pigeon pea) for eyes and white strips to show ash markings (Vibuthi) on his forehead and again a white strip to show one tusk. Completely a green Bappa, he was.  

So this year in the memory of this sweet old man who was my grandpops I decided to make a green Bappa just like he did when he was around and see the pics to see what I made. Though not big I was happy with my work so was mom and I bet Bappa was happy too, I hope. This Eco friendly Bappa is made of mud scrapped off an yam (sooran) which mom got a week before Ganesh Chaturthi, she always cleans it before storing it and when I saw her scrape off the wet mud off the yam I decided we are gonna use that mud to make her Bappa and voila, here he is for all to see. I decided to have an orange Bappa, inspiration being one of the Astha Vinayak Bappas. It wasn't difficult, one just has to imagine and Bappa manifests himself in your conscience/mind and your hands work, that's how it happened with me. I have used mustard seeds for eyes.